Medicare

Health Tech

Suvida Healthcare Taps Elation EHR to Help Power Care for Hispanic Seniors

Suvida Healthcare — a startup providing primary care for Medicare-eligible Hispanic adults — is adopting Elation Health’s primary care-specific technology platform. The platform comprises an EHR, as well as software for patient engagement, telehealth and revenue cycle management. Suvida's chief medical officer said Elation beat out the competition due to its focus on both primary care and value-based care.

Health IT

Fewer Physicians Are Practice Owners Than Ever & Medicare Rates Are to Blame, AMA Says

Over the past decade, a significant percentage of the country’s physicians have shifted from working in private practices (defined as those owned wholly by physicians) to working in bigger, health system-owned practices. The ability to negotiate higher payment rates with insurers when working at a larger practice is a crucial factor causing this trend, according to a new AMA analysis.

Legal

‘This Is Almost Biblical in Its Impact’: Providers Push Back Against CMS’ New Proposed Rules

CMS recently revealed its proposals to raise reimbursement rates for hospital outpatient departments and cut payments for physicians. Next year, the agency is planning to decrease physicians’ pay by 1.25% and increase outpatient payment rates by 2.8%. Provider groups are unhappy with the news — AMA President Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld said the new physician fee schedule will be “almost biblical in its impact.”

MedCity Influencers

Primary Care Missed Targets in the Quadruple Aim

Medical schools and residency training programs push trainees away from primary care and make primary care seem less prestigious. Medicare is the largest payer of graduate medical education, so Medicare could require additional outpatient primary care training in residency to encourage Family and Internal Medicine trainees to enter outpatient primary care, where the need is critical.